Apparatus and method for applying a coating to a can body

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for applying a coating of lubricant on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body wherein a turret having a plurality of pockets formed in its outer peripheral surface is mounted for rotation about a relatively fixed axis and during the rotation thereof a can body is fed into each pocket. The can body in each pocket is held against the outer peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating rolls having a space therebetween by a vacuum acting through the space so that the can body is rotated thereby and while rotating is moved against an arcuate wick having a supply of lubricant so as to form a coating of lubricant on the at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface. The peripheral velocity of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating can body about its own axis is the same as its peripheral velocity imparted thereto by the rotation of the turret about its own axis and is rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turret so that there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface and the arcuate wick as the coating of lubricant is applied.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the manufacture of one piecealuminum can bodies and more specifically to that portion of themanufacturing operations wherein a coating of lubricant is applied to atleast a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the manufacture of one piece aluminum can bodies, a coating oflubricant is applied to the portion of the outer peripheral surface ofthe can body next adjacent to the open end thereof. In the prior artapplicators, the can bodies are driven across a wick or a roll usingmoving belts in contact with the side walls of the can bodies to rotatethem. While this method has proven to be effective in applying thecoating of lubricant, there are many instances wherein the belts damagethe can bodies. Also, it is difficult to maintain a constantrelationship between the rotating can body and the applicator so that anuneven layer of the coating of lubricant is often applied. If a can bodyis not properly located when it is contacted by the belts, it ispossible for the can body to be tilted and hung up thus causing the canbody to cause a jam-up of the flow of can bodies. Therefore, thereexisted a need for a system for applying a coating of lubricant to theouter peripheral surface of a can body that is able to preciselyposition the can body against the lubricant applying means and to handlethe can body so that the least amount of deleterious forces are appliedthereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides apparatus and method for applying a coating oflubricant to at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a canbody using a rotating turret having a plurality of pockets on its outerperipheral surface with a can body held and rotated in each pocket sothat when the can body moves into contact with an arcuate wick having asupply of lubricant therein, an even coating of lubricant is applied toat least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the can body.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a main drive shaft isrotatable mounted on a fixedly mounted support frame and is rotated bysuitable means such as a drive motor. A turret is mounted on the maindrive shaft for rotation therewith and a plurality of pockets areprovided on the outer peripheral portion of the turret. Feed means arefixedly mounted on the support frame and provide a continuous supply ofcan bodies so that, as the turret rotates, one portion of each pocketremoves the bottommost can body from the feed means as it passesthereby. Each of the pockets has a pair of rolls which are rotatablymounted on the turret for rotation relative thereto and have axes ofrotation which are in parallel relationship. Each of the rolls has agenerally cylindrical outer peripheral surface with oppositely facingportions of adjacent rolls spaced a small distance apart. Vacuum meansare provided for supplying a vacuum between the oppositely facingportions of the pairs of rolls so as to hold the can body in the pocketagainst the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of the pairof rolls to establish line contact therebetween. While vacuum means arepreferred for holding the can body in the pocket, other types of holdingmeans may be employed, such as magnets for iron containing can bodies. Astationary gear is mounted at a fixed location. A gear is fixedlymounted on each of the rolls and is located so as to be in mesh with thestationary gear so that rotation of the turret rotates the rolls andtherefore the can body supported thereon. A lubricant supplying means isadjustably mounted on the support frame and comprises an arcuate wickwhich is located so as to be contacted by at least a portion of theouter peripheral surface of the can body as the turret rotates.Lubricant feeding means are provided for supplying lubricant to thearcuate wick. Each can body is rotated about its own axis so that theperipheral velocity of the outer peripheral surface of each can body isthe same as its peripheral velocity due to the rotation of the turretabout its own axis and is rotating in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of the turret so that there is substantially norelative sliding movement between the outer peripheral surface of thecan body and the arcuate wick as the coating of lubricant is applied tothe can body. The at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface isin contact with the arcuate wick for at least one complete revolution ofthe can body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 with parts in section; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5and comprises a fixedly mounted support frame 2 on which is mounted canbody feeding means 4 for holding a plurality of can bodies 6, FIG. 4,and having guide arms 8 for guiding the movement of a can body 6 as itis removed from the can body feeding means 4 as described below. A maindrive shaft 10 is mounted for rotation in a bearing 12, FIGS. 3 and 4,mounted on the support frame 2 and is rotated by conventional drivemeans, such as a motor 14. A turret 16 is mounted on the main driveshaft 10 for rotation therewith and has a plurality of pockets 18, FIGS.1 and 5, each of which has a radially outwardly projecting member 20having an arcuate surface 22 and is located so that, as the turret 16rotates, the member 20 removes a can body 6 as it moves through the canbody feeding means 4. Can body holding means 24, are provided for eachpocket 18 and function to hold a can body 6 in a pocket 18 so that atleast a portion 26, FIG. 4, of the outer peripheral surface 28 of thecan body 6 is freely exposed. Can body rotating means 30 are providedfor rotating the can bodies 6 as the turret 16 rotates. Arcuately shapedlubricant applying means 32, described more fully below, are adjustablymounted on the support frame 2 and have an arcuately shaped wick 34,FIGS. 2 and 4, saturated with liquid lubricant and located so as to becontacted by the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface28 of a can body 6 as the turret 16 rotates. The operation of theinvention is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 wherein the can bodyrotating means 30 rotates each can body 6 about its own axis so that theperipheral velocity of the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheralsurface 28 is substantially the same as its peripheral velocity impartedthereto by the rotation of the turret 16 about its own axis and ismoving in a clockwise direction as compared to the movement of theturret in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the variousarrows in FIG. 2, so that there is substantially no relative slidingmovement between the at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheralsurface 28 and the arcuately shaped wick 34 as the coating of lubricantis being applied. The arcuately shaped wick 34 has an arcuate extentwhich cooperates with the velocities of the turret 16 and the can body 6to ensure that the can body 6 has at least one complete revolution whilethe at least a portion 26 of the outer peripheral surface 28 is incontact with the arcuately shaped wick 34.

The turret 16 comprises an axially outer annular member 40, FIGS. 3 and4, which is mounted on a flange portion 42 integral with the main driveshaft 10 by headed threaded bolts 44 passing through arcuately shapedslots 45 to provide for adjustment thereof. The axially outer annularmember 40 has an axially inwardly projecting annular flange 46 having agenerally planar surface 48 in contact with a generally planar surface50 of the flange portion 42. The axially outer annular member 40 has agenerally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 52, FIG. 4, and aplurality of openings 54 extending therethrough in an axial directionparallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main drive shaft 10 whereinpairs of the openings 54, FIG. 5, are spaced equidistantly apart and arelocated the same distance radially inwardly from the outer peripheralsurface 52.

An annular central body portion 60 has a generally cylindrical innersurface 62 through which the main drive shaft 10 passes and a radiallyoutwardly extending recess 64 having a generally cylindrical surface 66in contact with the generally cylindrical outer surface 68 of the flangeportion 42. The annular central body portion 60 has a generallycylindrical outer peripheral surface 70 having a diameter substantiallyless than the diameter of the generally cylindrical outer peripheralsurface 52. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart compartments72 extend radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surface 70 andeach compartment 72 has an opening 74 extending therethrough in an axialdirection generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the maindrive shaft 10.

An axially inner annular member 80 has a generally cylindrical innersurface 82 through which the main drive shaft 10 passes and has agenerally planar surface 84 in contact with a generally planar surface86 of the annular central body portion 60. A plurality of equidistantlyspaced apart openings 88 extend through the axially inner annular member80 in an axial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56of the main drive shaft 10 are in alignment with the openings 74 in theannular central body portion 60. The axially inner annular member 80 hasa generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface 90 and a plurality ofopenings 92 extending therethrough in an axial direction generallyparallel to the axis of rotation 56 of the main draft shaft 10 whereinpairs of the openings 92 are spaced equidistantly apart and are locatedthe same distance radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surface 90similar to the pairs of openings 52. A plurality of headed threadedbolts 94 extend through openings in the axially outer annular member 40,the annular central body portion 60 and are threaded into threadedopenings 96 in the axially inner annular member 80 to secure the annularcentral body portion 60 and the axially inner annular member 80 to theaxially outer annular member 40 for rotation therewith. An annular wearplate 98 is secured on the generally planar surface 100 of the axiallyinner annular member 80. The annular wear plate 98 has a plurality ofequidistantly spaced apart openings 102 extending therethrough in anaxial direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation 56 of themain drive shaft 10 and each opening 102 is aligned with the openings 74and 88 and has a generally planar annular surface 104 for purposesdescribed below.

A roll 110 has a central body portion 112 having a generally cylindricalouter peripheral surface 114 having a diameter slightly greater than thediameter of the generally cylindrical inner surface of the openings 52and 92 has end portions 116 and 118 which are mounted in bearings 120secured in the openings 52 and 92. A gear 126 is mounted on the endportion 118 so that rotation of the gear 126, as described below,rotates the roll 110. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the generallycylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114 have oppositely facingportions 128 and 130 slightly spaced apart for purposes described below.Each of the pockets 18 has a pair 140 of the shafts 110 and the radiallyoutwardly projecting members 20 the arcuate surfaces 22 for guiding thecan bodies onto the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114.

Manifold means 142, FIGS. 2 and 3, are resiliently movably mounted byrods 144 on the support frame 2 and are connected to a vacuum producingmeans 146 by flexible tubing 148 connected to an opening 150 in themanifold means 142. An arcuately shaped recess 152, FIGS. 4 and 5, hasone end portion 154 associated with the can body feeding means 4 and theother end portion 156 at a can body discharge station. The centerline ofthe arcuately shaped recess 152 is in alignment with the centers of theopenings 74, 88 and 102. A spring 158 is mounted on each of the rods 144and bears against a flange 160 on the support frame 2 and the outersurface 162 of the manifold means 142 to urge the generally planarsurface 164 against the generally planar surface 104 of the annular wearplate 98. The rods 144 are slidably mounted in bushings 166 secured inthe support frame 2. The foregoing structure functions to provide avacuum between the oppositely facing portions 128 and 130 when thealigned openings 74, 88 and 102 are opposite the arcuate recess 152during the rotation of the turret 16 so as to hold a can body 6 againstthe generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces 114 of the rolls110.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a recess 170 facing the turret 16 is formed inthe manifold means 142. A stationary gear 172 is mounted in the recess170 by bolts 174 and has a plurality of teeth 176 located so as to be inengagement with the teeth of the gears 126 so that rotation of theturret 16 rotates the gears 126 and therefore the rolls 110 so as torotate the can body 6 in contact with the generally cylindrical outerperipheral surfaces 114.

The arcuately shaped lubricant applying means 32, FIG. 4, comprises anarcuately shaped support 180 having an inverted U-shaped transversecross-sectional configuration formed by a cover plate 182 securedthereto by a plurality of threaded nuts and bolts 184. The arcuatelyshaped wick 34 is secured between the arcuately shaped support 180 andthe cover plate 182 and a plurality of hoses 186, FIG. 1, are connectedthrough the arcuately shaped support 180 to the arcuately shaped wick 34to supply a liquid lubricant thereto. The arcuately shaped wick 34 ispreferably formed from a lubricant holding material such as an open cellpolyurethane foam. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the arcuately shapedsupport 180 is adjustably mounted on the support frame 2 by a pair ofspaced apart plate members 188 secured to the support frame 2 and eachhaving an extension arm 190 extending outwardly therefrom in thedirection of the turret 16 and having a generally planar surface 192.Another pair of spaced apart plate members 194 having flange portions196 which are mounted on the arcuately shaped support 180 by suitablemeans, such as bolts (not shown). Each plate member 194 has a generallyplanar surface 198 in sliding contact with the generally planar surface192. Each plate member 188 has a slot 200 formed therein whichcooperates with headed bolts 202 for adjustment of the arcuately shapedsupport 180 in linear directions as indicated by the arrow 204. Eachplate member 194 has a slot 206 formed therein which cooperates withheaded bolts 208 and nuts 210 for adjustment of the arcuately shapedsupport 180 in linear directions as indicated by the arrow 212.

In operation, can bodies 6 are continuously supplied to the can bodyfeeding means 4. As the turret 16 rotates, the radially outwardlyprojecting member 20 contacts the bottom-most can body 6 in the can bodyfeeding means 4 to remove such can body 6. The arcuately shaped surface22 guides the can body 6 onto the generally cylindrical outer surfaces114. The trailing side 190 is also provided with an arcuate surface 192to ensure that the can body 6 is seated on the cylindrical outersurfaces 114. When the can body 6 is seated on the cylindrical outersurfaces 114, it does not contact either of the arcuate surfaces 22 and192. As illustrated in FIG. 5, as the can body 6 is positioned on thegenerally cylindrical outer surfaces 114, the turret 16 has rotated sothat the compartment 72 therebeneath has been connected to the vacuumsource 146 through the recess 152 so that a vacuum in the compartment 72holds the can body 6 in contact with the generally cylindrical outerperipheral surfaces 114. The guide arms 8 guide the can body 6 into theproper position on the generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces114 so that the at least a portion 26 thereof will be properly orientedso as to contact the arcuate wick 34. As described above, and asillustrated in FIG. 2, the can body 6 is rotated so that its peripheralvelocity is equal to the peripheral velocity of the turret 16 so thatthere is no relative sliding motion between the portion 26 of the canbody 6 and the corresponding portion of the arcuate wick 34 that it isrolled over. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the turret 16 has rotatedthe compartment 72 past the vacuum cut off 156, the can body 6 may beremoved from the pocket 18 by suitable means (not shown) for furtherprocessing. The lubricant applied to the can body may be variedaccording to the further processing operations and may comprise suchmaterials as a mineral oil, a melted petrolatum or other liquidmaterials.

While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understoodthat the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied andemployed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed toinclude such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for applying a coating of lubricant onat least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can bodycomprising:a fixedly mounted support frame; feeding means forcontinuously feeding can bodies to a feed station, each of said canbodies having a bottom end and an integral sidewall having a generallycylindrical outer peripheral surface; drive means for rotating a maindrive shaft which is mounted for rotation on said support frame; aturret mounted on said main drive shaft for rotation therewith; aplurality of pockets formed on said turret between radially outwardlyprojecting members for rotation therewith and wherein each of saidpockets removes a can body from said feed station as said pocket movesthrough said feed station; can body holding means in each of saidpockets for holding each of said can bodies in each of said pockets sothat at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface is freelyexposed; can body rotating means for rotating each of said can bodies insaid pockets as said turret rotates; and lubricant applying meansmounted on said support frame at a fixed location and positioned so thatsaid at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface of saidrotating can body contacts said lubricant supplying means as said turretrotates for applying a coating of lubricant thereon.
 2. Apparatus inclaim 1 wherein said lubricant applying means comprises:an arcuatesupport adjustably mounted on said support frame; an arcuate wicksaturated with liquid lubricant attached to said arcuate support andpositioned to be contacted by said at least a portion of said outerperipheral surface of said rotating can body; and lubricant feedingmeans for feeding a supply of liquid lubricant to said arcuate wick. 3.Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:said rotating can body having aperipheral velocity due to the rotation thereof around its own axiswhich is substantially the same as its peripheral velocity due to saidrotation of said turret about its own axis and is rotating in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said turret about itsown axis so that there is substantially no relative sliding movementbetween said at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface andsaid arcuate wick during their contacting relationship.
 4. Apparatus asin claim 1 wherein said can body rotating means comprises:each of saidpockets having a pair of rolls mounted on said turret for rotationrelative thereto and having axes of rotation that are in parallelrelationship; each of said rolls having a generally cylindrical outerperipheral surface with oppositely facing portions thereof spaced apart;a remaining portion of said side wall of said can body in each of saidturrets having line contact with each of said outer peripheral surfacesof said pair of rolls; and roll rotating means for rotating said pair ofrolls to rotate a can body in said pocket.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4wherein said can body roll rotating means comprises:a stationary gear;and a gear fixedly mounted on each of said rolls and located so as to bein mesh with said stationary gear so that rotation of said turretrotates said rolls
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said turretcomprises:an axially outer annular member fixedly mounted on said maindrive shaft for rotation therewith; said axially outer annular memberhaving a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a pluralityof spaced apart openings extending therethrough in an axial directionand located radially inwardly from said generally cylindrical outerperipheral surface; a main body portion having a central opening throughwhich said main drive shaft passes; a plurality of spaced apartcompartments extending radially inwardly from the outer peripheralsurface of said main body portion; said main body portion having adiameter that is less than the diameter of said axially outer annularmember; an axially inner annular member having a central opening throughwhich said main drive shaft passes; said axially inner annular memberhaving a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a pluralityof spaced apart openings extending therethrough in an axial directionand located radially inwardly from said generally cylindrical outerperipheral surface thereof; said axially inner annular member having adiameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of said axiallyouter annular member; said main body portion being located between saidaxially inner and outer annular members; mounting means for mountingsaid main body portion and said axially inner annular member on saidaxially outer annular member so that said openings in said axially innerand outer annular members are in alignment; each of said pockets havinga pair of rolls mounted on said turret for rotation relative thereto andhaving axes of rotation that are in parallel relationship; each of saidrolls having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface withoppositely facing portions thereof spaced apart; a remaining portion ofsaid side wall of said can body in each of said pockets having linecontact with each of said outer peripheral surfaces of said pair ofrolls; roll rotating means for rotating said pair of rolls to rotate acan body in said pocket; and vacuum means for supplying a vacuum betweensaid oppositely facing portions of said pair of rolls to hold said canbody onto said outer peripheral surfaces of said pair of rolls. 7.Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said vacuum means comprises:an annularwear strip secured to an axially inner surface of said axially innerannular member; a vacuum manifold resiliently mounted on said supportframe and having an arcuately shaped open portion thereof facing andaligned with said annular wear strip; vacuum forming means connected tosaid vacuum manifold; and aligned openings in said annular wear strip,said axially inner member and said compartments so that each of saidcompartments is in fluid communication with said arcuate vacuum manifoldas it passes by said arcuately shaped open portion.
 8. Apparatus as inclaim 6 wherein said roll rotating means comprises:a stationary gear;and a gear fixedly mounted on each of said rolls and located so as to bein mesh with said stationary gear so that rotation of said turretrotates said rolls.
 9. Apparatus in claim 8 wherein said lubricantapplying means comprises:an arcuate support adjustably mounted on saidsupport frame; an arcuate wick saturated with liquid lubricant attachedto said arcuate support and positioned to be contacted by said at leasta portion of said outer peripheral surface of said rotating can body;and lubricant feeding means for feeding a supply of liquid lubricant tosaid arcuate wick.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein:said rotating canbody having a peripheral velocity due to the rotation thereof around itsown axis which is substantially the same as its peripheral velocity dueto said rotation of said turret about its own axis and is rotating in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said turret about itsown axis so that there is substantially no relative sliding movementbetween said at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface andsaid arcuate wick during their contacting relationship.
 11. Apparatus asin claim 10 wherein said vacuum means comprises:an annular wear stripsecured to an axially inner surface of said axially inner annularmember; a vacuum manifold resiliently mounted on said support frame andhaving an arcuately shaped open portion thereof facing and aligned withsaid annular wear strip; vacuum forming means connected to said vacuummanifold; and aligned openings in said annular wear strip, said axiallyinner member and said compartments so that each of said compartments isin fluid communication with said vacuum manifold as it passes by saidarcuately shaped open portion.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 11 and furthercomprising:adjustable means for adjustably mounting said lubricantapplying means o said support frame.
 13. A rotatable turret for use in acan body processing system comprising:a fixedly mounted support frame; amain drive shaft mounted on said support frame for rotation relativethereto; drive means for rotating said main drive shaft; a turretmounted on said main drive shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality ofpockets formed on said turret between radially outwardly projectingmembers for rotation therewith; a plurality of rolls each having agenerally cylindrical outer surface and mounted on said turret forrotation therewith and for rotation relative thereto; a pair of saidrolls mounted in each of said pockets; gear means for rotating each ofsaid rolls; feed means for feeding a can body into each of said pocketsas said turret rotates, each of said can bodies having at least a bottomend and an integral sidewall having a generally cylindrical outersurface; and holding means connected to each of said pockets during aportion of each rotation of said turret for holding said generallycylindrical outer surface of said can body in contact with saidgenerally cylindrical outer surfaces of each pair of said rolls so as torotate said can body.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said gearmeans comprises:a stationary gear; and a gear fixedly mounted on each ofsaid rolls and located so as to be in mesh with said stationary gear sothat rotation of said turret rotates said rolls.
 15. Apparatus as inclaim 14 wherein said holding means comprises:vacuum means comprising:an annular wear strip secured to an axially inner surface of saidturret; a vacuum manifold resiliently mounted on said support frame andhaving an open arcuately shaped portion thereof facing and aligned withsaid annular wear strip; vacuum forming means connected to said vacuummanifold; a plurality of compartments located radially inwardly fromeach pair of said rolls; and aligned openings in said annular wearstrip, and each of said compartments so that each of said compartmentsis in fluid communication with said vacuum manifold as it passes by saidarcuately shaped open portion.
 16. A method for applying a coating oflubricant on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a canbody comprising:mounting a turret for rotation about a relatively fixedaxis; forming a plurality of pockets on the outer peripheral surface ofsaid turret; feeding a can body having a generally cylindrical outerperipheral surface into each of said pockets as said turret is rotating;holding each of said can bodies in one of said pockets by applying aforce thereto using holding means within each of said pockets so that atleast a portion of said outer peripheral surface is freely exposed;rotating said can body about its own axis as it is being held in saidpocket; and moving said at least a portion of said outer peripheralsurface of said can body into contact with a lubricant applying means soas to apply a coating of lubricant thereon.
 17. A method as in claim 16and further comprising:forming said lubricant applying means as anarcuate wick mounted at a fixed location.
 18. A method as in claim 16and further comprising:rotating said can body about its own axis so thatsaid outer peripheral surface has a peripheral velocity which issubstantially the same as the peripheral velocity of said turret as itis rotated about its own axis and is rotating in a direction opposite tothe direction of rotation of said turret about its own axis so thatthere is substantially no relative sliding movement between said atleast a portion of said outer peripheral surface and said arcuate wickduring the application of said coating of lubricant.
 19. A method as inclaim 18 and further comprising:maintaining said contact between said atleast a portion of said outer peripheral surface and said arcuate wickfor more than one complete revolution of said can body.
 20. A method asin claim 19 wherein said holding and rotating of said can bodycomprises:urging said can body against the outer peripheral surfaces ofa pair of rotating rolls having axes of rotation that are in parallelrelationship and with opposite facing portions thereof spaced apart toform a space therebetween and so that only line contact exists betweensaid can body and said pair of rotating rolls using said holding means,wherein said holding means comprises vacuum means acting on said canbody through said space between said opposite facing portions.